Sino-Canada High School held its annual Public Day for teachers and parents communication earlier this month. The event in the school's Education Park attracted many of the students' parents from both home and abroad.

 

School official Connie Wang said what differentiated Sino-Canada from traditional Chinese schools was its policy of "exchange activities."

 

"We are totally open and promote a very free environment at the high school Public Days," she said. "This provides an opportunity for parents to talk to any teacher they like."

 

As an international school, Sino-Canada High School is a fully certified, private, international high school operating under the permission of the China Ministry of Education and the British Columbia Ministry of Education in Canada.

 

Located in the Shanghai area, it is the only school authorized to provide a certified Canadian high school curriculum and diploma program to international students.

 

The school provides an authentic Canadian high school environment and academic experience that effectively prepares international students with the necessary qualifications and skills for further education in Canada or universities worldwide.

 

"Most of our parents wanted to take this opportunity (on the Public Day) to get some information about studying abroad so that they can make a plan for their (child's) future in advance," said Kevin Zhang, director of the school's overseas center. "Sino-Canada (High School) can meet the requirements of those Chinese parents who are inclined to send their children to study abroad."

 

On the Public Day, Zhang said that many parents waited at his desk in order to have the chance to get some advice on sending their children abroad.

 

"We are trying to do what we can to help them because children are the hope of all parents."

 

During the Public Day, some Chinese parents were surprised to see that their children had improved so much in their English-language ability when they acted as interpreters for the Canadian teachers and the parents.

 

"This is something teachers in Sino-Canada High School are always proud of," said Aaron Spouler, a teacher from British Columbia. "Students in this school are independent, aggressive and full of their own ideas. They no longer study mechanically. They can learn actively by themselves."

 

"More importantly, they learn to manage time properly so that they take part in various activities to enhance their ability, such as organization skills, communication skills and team spirit, among others. This is a valuable experience for modern students, preparing them to go abroad for further study independently."

 

With its slogan "Choose Sino-Canada, your gateway to the world," the school currently has about 30 percent of its international students from Asian countries, such as South Korea, Japan and Singapore, among others, as well as more than 60 percent of students from Chinese mainland.

 

"Undoubtedly, with the increasing number of people going abroad as well as foreigners working in China, Sino-Canada High School presents a dual curriculum that meets the specific needs of global families living an international lifestyle," official Wang said.

 

(Shanghai Daily November 16, 2006)